When the Italian food and wine emporium Eataly opens in New York City on Tuesday, it will sell gelato, cheese, espresso, salumi, pasta, pizza, pastries, and books. Rizzoli Bookstore announced last week that it will be the exclusive bookseller in Eataly, which is located in the former Toy Building on 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
Eataly is modeled after a similar mega-store in Turin, Italy; this first U.S. outpost is helmed in part by Lidia Bastianich, Mario Batali, and Joseph Bastianich—who have written 20 cookbooks between themselves. The 36,500-square-foot space will feature “boutiques” for various foods, and the books boutique will include between 300 and 400 titles selected by Rizzoli.
Rizzoli president Marco Ausenda said the books boutique will focus on books about food, wine, and travel, with a special emphasis on Italy “as well as the kinds of artisanal foods which will be showcased in Eataly, and books on the Slow Food and locavore movements which are transforming our culinary lives." The store will carry books from many publishers, not just Rizzoli.
Rizzoli will manage all signings by chefs who will be giving classes and demonstrations in Eataly's cooking school, and will also host a regular series of additional author appearances and events in the bookstore area.
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